I have been a fan of the Las Vegas band known as The Killers since their debut album was released not too long ago, but have never really known too much about the group. In fact, I couldn't have even picked one of the members out of a line up, so I guess "fan" isn't the correct term to use. Let's say I was an advocate of their music. Well, now I can pick them out of a line up after their performance on Saturday Night Live's season premiere, and what a disappointment their show was.
First off, SNL has ceased to be funny. They go through phases and this is not one of the high points for them. Dane Cook started off poorly in the opening monologue and couldn't produce the laughs the show so desperately needed.
However, this is not about the show's disappointment. This is about The Killers disappointment. We will begin with this interesting tidbit of opinionated information. The lead singer of the group, Brandon Flowers, can't sing. I'm serious. He is bad. They must pull out some nifty gadgets to get his vocal chords in shape for an album.
Here is the second, and more important, part of my criticizing post. The band members all seem like caricatures of real people. During the first number Flowers seemed to be a Buddy Holly impersonator and then he transformed into Ferris Bueller performing at a bar mitzvah. The drummer was a dead ringer for Jason Lee's television personality Earl Hickey. Slash, from Guns N' Roses, was playing guitar accompanied by Kurt Cobain's clone. It's like this group is a tribute band to the player's favorite celebrities.
After a great freshman album, a cool new single currently being played on the radio and the band paying homage to a casino I won a poker tournament at with their new album title, I was all aboard for the return of The Killers. Tonight ruined all of that.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
TOC IV - Game Seven
Tonight started off terrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiibbbbbbbly. My head was not in the game. I was just thinking about work and how long of a day I had due to a shady funeral home family and a sexual predator doctor that worked for the Ennis hospital.
I lost my head a couple of times and had to take a walk outside, thanks to the suggestion from Mike and Danny, in order to cool off from my bad play and bad luck (mostly bad play). Yet, it all worked out in the end, and it's about end results, right? Right? No? Oh dear.
I need to apologize again to the players at the red table. I lost my cool and took it out on the people around me. I am sorry about that. I need to give a special sorry to Brooke, who was on the receiving end of an aggravated thrust of the cards in her general direction. Oh no, not my two hole cards, the entire deck that I was preparing for the next hand. My bad.
Here are the results for tonight and the standings after seven weeks.
Tonight's game:
1st - Matt - 0 points
2nd - Hector - 11 points
3rd - Danny - 21 points
4th - Linda - 30 points
5th - Mike I - 38 points
6th - Nick - 45 points
7th - Wayne - 51 points
8th - Brooke - 56 points
9th - Mike II - 60 points
10th - Brian - 63 points
11th - Slope - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall standings:
1st - Linda - 200 points
2nd - Matt - 221 points
3rd - Mike II - 251 points
4th - Slope - 262 points
5th - Nick - 268 points
6th - Danny - 274 points
7th - Brooke - 298 points
8th - Wayne - 326 points
9th - Hector - 340 points
10th - Brian - 349 points
11th - James - 365 points
12th - Mike I - 389 points
I lost my head a couple of times and had to take a walk outside, thanks to the suggestion from Mike and Danny, in order to cool off from my bad play and bad luck (mostly bad play). Yet, it all worked out in the end, and it's about end results, right? Right? No? Oh dear.
I need to apologize again to the players at the red table. I lost my cool and took it out on the people around me. I am sorry about that. I need to give a special sorry to Brooke, who was on the receiving end of an aggravated thrust of the cards in her general direction. Oh no, not my two hole cards, the entire deck that I was preparing for the next hand. My bad.
Here are the results for tonight and the standings after seven weeks.
Tonight's game:
1st - Matt - 0 points
2nd - Hector - 11 points
3rd - Danny - 21 points
4th - Linda - 30 points
5th - Mike I - 38 points
6th - Nick - 45 points
7th - Wayne - 51 points
8th - Brooke - 56 points
9th - Mike II - 60 points
10th - Brian - 63 points
11th - Slope - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall standings:
1st - Linda - 200 points
2nd - Matt - 221 points
3rd - Mike II - 251 points
4th - Slope - 262 points
5th - Nick - 268 points
6th - Danny - 274 points
7th - Brooke - 298 points
8th - Wayne - 326 points
9th - Hector - 340 points
10th - Brian - 349 points
11th - James - 365 points
12th - Mike I - 389 points
Friday, September 29, 2006
Return Of The Slope
Not only is he alive, but he is here. He arrived in town by bus this morning and has made it the TOC with time to spare. He said he is tired and may not perform well, but at least he is here. It's good to have things back to normal.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
The James Bond Challenge
For a few years now I have had the idea of watching a marathon of films that would seal my fate in the halls of dorkiness once and for all, but sadly somebody is beating me to the punch.
Empire magazine has announced it will have three writers attempt to watch all 20 “official” James Bond movies in one sitting during this weekend. The writers challenge other fans to watch along with them with a schedule they have put out, which include a few breaks for whatever (except sleep). They plan to do this during the upcoming weekend, and I just cannot take part in it due to the TOC messing with my sleep patterns the night before (maybe; depending on how good I do). The writers will spend the better part of two days watching 20 movies without sleep. They can eat and drink whatever they need in order to stay awake, just no sleeping is allowed.
Although I can’t fit this challenge into my schedule this weekend, I have decided to attempt it sometime soon. It may not happen this weekend, but it will happen before Nov. 17 (the date of the opening for "Casino Royale"). I will begin with "Dr. No" on a Saturday at 8 a.m. and the credits of "Die Another Day" should be rolling at approximately 2:02 a.m. on Monday morning if I take no breaks whatsoever.
I would like to see some of you join me in the challenge. I know nobody will stay up for all of them, but if you would like to take part in a few of the movies I will let you know what the schedule looks like. Wish me luck on my path to ultimate dorkdom.
Empire magazine has announced it will have three writers attempt to watch all 20 “official” James Bond movies in one sitting during this weekend. The writers challenge other fans to watch along with them with a schedule they have put out, which include a few breaks for whatever (except sleep). They plan to do this during the upcoming weekend, and I just cannot take part in it due to the TOC messing with my sleep patterns the night before (maybe; depending on how good I do). The writers will spend the better part of two days watching 20 movies without sleep. They can eat and drink whatever they need in order to stay awake, just no sleeping is allowed.
Although I can’t fit this challenge into my schedule this weekend, I have decided to attempt it sometime soon. It may not happen this weekend, but it will happen before Nov. 17 (the date of the opening for "Casino Royale"). I will begin with "Dr. No" on a Saturday at 8 a.m. and the credits of "Die Another Day" should be rolling at approximately 2:02 a.m. on Monday morning if I take no breaks whatsoever.
I would like to see some of you join me in the challenge. I know nobody will stay up for all of them, but if you would like to take part in a few of the movies I will let you know what the schedule looks like. Wish me luck on my path to ultimate dorkdom.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
"King's Men" Hindered By Great Talent
I once heard a saying about the art of filmmaking that explains a lot about movies today. That statement is, “Having all the right elements for a movie doesn’t assure a blockbuster, but having all the wrong ones guarantees a flop.”
With a popular novel from Robert Penn Warren, award-winning and highly regarded actors playing the parts and an Oscar winning writer, turned director at the controls it seems “All the King’s Men” has all the elements to be an interesting morality tale of idealism and political corruption. However, having all the right elements for a movie doesn’t assure a blockbuster.
Sean Penn’s most recent dramatic role – which apparently is all he will consider doing since his last comedic role, not including a brief stint on two episodes of “Friends,” was as slacker Jeff Spicoli in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” almost 25 years ago, which might be the last time he cracked a smile in front of the camera – comes in the form of Willie Stark, a Louisiana governor, loosely based on Governor Huey P. Long, who wants nothing more than to build a better state for his “hick” constituents. Yet, this passion for new roads, bridges, schools and an overall better life must come at a price for someone, but the cost may not be a monetary one.
Stark enters the governor’s race as an honest and loyal husband who neither drinks nor smokes and wants only the best for those around him. Somewhere between intense campaign speeches about his fellow “hicks” and nailing up the competition to winning the election and butting heads with all of the state senators Stark becomes a shadow of his former self. He begins drinking heavily, chasing so many women he needs an abacus to keep up with all the women he is with and takes a lesson in persuasion from Gandolfini’s more famous role on HBO’s “The Sopranos.”
“All the King’s Men” isn’t really just about the king though. This movie shows what takes place to the souls of the men and women underneath the king. These underlings, whom Stark uses like weapons in a game of chess, come in the form of some outstanding players who never really show what they are made of. They include Jude Law, James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.
A star-studded cast and material that was previously used to win a best picture and best actor Oscar doesn’t come together after 120 minutes to really drum up any real emotional response from the audience. It ends, credits roll, audience gets up and nothing more is said.
Steven Zaillian undertook this project probably thinking he was on the road to another Academy Award, which he won for writing “Schindler’s List.” What Zaillian may have failed to take into account is Academy members have to actually make it through the entire film without getting so frustrated with the sluggish pace and meandering storylines they turn the movie off before it ends.
Zaillian’s choice to have Jude Law’s journalist, turned political right-hand man character, Jack Burden, play the narrator isn’t the problem. It is bringing in Burden’s personal problems of lost love and family turmoil that Zaillian starts to lose us. The movie strays from Stark’s battle with the senators attempt to impeach him, which is never really understood for what reason, to Burden’s battle between right and wrong that involves his godfather Judge Irwin, played by Hopkins.
Wonderful actors, a wonderful story and a wonderful director unfortunately don’t make a wonderful film. It’s not a bad film, just one that is easily avoided.
With a popular novel from Robert Penn Warren, award-winning and highly regarded actors playing the parts and an Oscar winning writer, turned director at the controls it seems “All the King’s Men” has all the elements to be an interesting morality tale of idealism and political corruption. However, having all the right elements for a movie doesn’t assure a blockbuster.
Sean Penn’s most recent dramatic role – which apparently is all he will consider doing since his last comedic role, not including a brief stint on two episodes of “Friends,” was as slacker Jeff Spicoli in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” almost 25 years ago, which might be the last time he cracked a smile in front of the camera – comes in the form of Willie Stark, a Louisiana governor, loosely based on Governor Huey P. Long, who wants nothing more than to build a better state for his “hick” constituents. Yet, this passion for new roads, bridges, schools and an overall better life must come at a price for someone, but the cost may not be a monetary one.
Stark enters the governor’s race as an honest and loyal husband who neither drinks nor smokes and wants only the best for those around him. Somewhere between intense campaign speeches about his fellow “hicks” and nailing up the competition to winning the election and butting heads with all of the state senators Stark becomes a shadow of his former self. He begins drinking heavily, chasing so many women he needs an abacus to keep up with all the women he is with and takes a lesson in persuasion from Gandolfini’s more famous role on HBO’s “The Sopranos.”
“All the King’s Men” isn’t really just about the king though. This movie shows what takes place to the souls of the men and women underneath the king. These underlings, whom Stark uses like weapons in a game of chess, come in the form of some outstanding players who never really show what they are made of. They include Jude Law, James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.
A star-studded cast and material that was previously used to win a best picture and best actor Oscar doesn’t come together after 120 minutes to really drum up any real emotional response from the audience. It ends, credits roll, audience gets up and nothing more is said.
Steven Zaillian undertook this project probably thinking he was on the road to another Academy Award, which he won for writing “Schindler’s List.” What Zaillian may have failed to take into account is Academy members have to actually make it through the entire film without getting so frustrated with the sluggish pace and meandering storylines they turn the movie off before it ends.
Zaillian’s choice to have Jude Law’s journalist, turned political right-hand man character, Jack Burden, play the narrator isn’t the problem. It is bringing in Burden’s personal problems of lost love and family turmoil that Zaillian starts to lose us. The movie strays from Stark’s battle with the senators attempt to impeach him, which is never really understood for what reason, to Burden’s battle between right and wrong that involves his godfather Judge Irwin, played by Hopkins.
Wonderful actors, a wonderful story and a wonderful director unfortunately don’t make a wonderful film. It’s not a bad film, just one that is easily avoided.
Monday, September 25, 2006
He's Alive! He's Alive!
We haven’t received many details, but Slope is alive and, according to him, doing very well. Mike received a u2u on the Fold For Free Forum from Dave41 (Slope’s username) that said he was sorry about leaving the way he did but he didn’t really want to go into details about where he was or why he left.
Now that we are absolutely positive he is alive we can begin to make jokes about his disappearance without feeling guilty. We made the jokes before we knew he wasn't dead, but we would have a weird feeling in the back of our minds that if we were wrong something really bad wasn't going to descend upon us very soon. There was always that five percent chance that he could have shown up decomposed in Mosier Valley and we would have not been able to forgive ourselves for the snide remarks during the past few days.
Obviously we were worried about his absence, but we felt strongly from the evidence left behind that he wasn’t dead, merely missing in action. However, we are positive now that he is among the living and has not made a permanent move to the afterlife.
Slope, good to hear you are okay. Drop us a line on the forum.
Now that we are absolutely positive he is alive we can begin to make jokes about his disappearance without feeling guilty. We made the jokes before we knew he wasn't dead, but we would have a weird feeling in the back of our minds that if we were wrong something really bad wasn't going to descend upon us very soon. There was always that five percent chance that he could have shown up decomposed in Mosier Valley and we would have not been able to forgive ourselves for the snide remarks during the past few days.
Obviously we were worried about his absence, but we felt strongly from the evidence left behind that he wasn’t dead, merely missing in action. However, we are positive now that he is among the living and has not made a permanent move to the afterlife.
Slope, good to hear you are okay. Drop us a line on the forum.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Gone But Not Forgotten
My friend Clint Hyslop, better known as Slope, has vanished on us for some unknown reason. Although at first we were all worried about Slope’s disappearance, going as far as calling local police departments and hospitals, a little Sam Spade detective work from Slope’s roommate Nick has shown that he might not have been abducted by aliens or accosted by a crazy cult at all. Our best guess is Slope decided to take what little money he had and make the jump to professional poker player in Las Vegas.
I say he didn’t have much money, but in reality he had a couple hundred bucks probably, which is fine for moving to another city and starting anew, but not a lot when you want to start out as a professional poker player. Slope has wanted to pull a Mike McDermott for some time now but has always been talked out of it by friends.
We don’t know for sure that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre family has not kidnapped him or he has received amnesia after taking a spill on a motorcycle he purchased the day after we last saw him, but Slope is a resilient person who can survive in any environment. If he is out in the desert paradise known as Las Vegas then I wish him the best. Slope; make the Arlington crew proud.
I say he didn’t have much money, but in reality he had a couple hundred bucks probably, which is fine for moving to another city and starting anew, but not a lot when you want to start out as a professional poker player. Slope has wanted to pull a Mike McDermott for some time now but has always been talked out of it by friends.
We don’t know for sure that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre family has not kidnapped him or he has received amnesia after taking a spill on a motorcycle he purchased the day after we last saw him, but Slope is a resilient person who can survive in any environment. If he is out in the desert paradise known as Las Vegas then I wish him the best. Slope; make the Arlington crew proud.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
TOC IV - Game Six
Not a good night for me.
Tonight's results:
1st - Nick - 0 points
2nd - Linda - 11 points
3rd - Mike II - 21 points
4th - Danny - 30 points
5th - Brian - 38 points
6th - Slope - 45 points
7th - Mike I - 51 points
8th - Brooke - 56 points
9th - Wayne - 60 points
10th - Hector - 63 points
11th - Matt - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall standings:
1st - Linda - 170 points
2nd - Mike II - 191 points
3rd - Slope - 197 points
4th - Matt - 221 points
5th - Nick - 223 points
6th - Brooke - 242 points
7th - Danny - 253 points
8th - Wayne - 275 points
9th - Brian - 286 points
10th - James - 299 points
11th - Hector - 329 points
12th - Mike I - 351 points
Tonight's results:
1st - Nick - 0 points
2nd - Linda - 11 points
3rd - Mike II - 21 points
4th - Danny - 30 points
5th - Brian - 38 points
6th - Slope - 45 points
7th - Mike I - 51 points
8th - Brooke - 56 points
9th - Wayne - 60 points
10th - Hector - 63 points
11th - Matt - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall standings:
1st - Linda - 170 points
2nd - Mike II - 191 points
3rd - Slope - 197 points
4th - Matt - 221 points
5th - Nick - 223 points
6th - Brooke - 242 points
7th - Danny - 253 points
8th - Wayne - 275 points
9th - Brian - 286 points
10th - James - 299 points
11th - Hector - 329 points
12th - Mike I - 351 points
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Fantasy Football Week One Results
I made it through my first week of fantasy football, and quite surprisingly I didn’t completely stink. In a league of nine I am sitting in fourth place.
Eli Manning had a decent game. Two mistakes in the second half cost me some precious points, but hit double digits and scored more than 12 points.
I got some good points from Warrick Dunn, but I would have been better off starting Reggie Bush, since he scored two more points than Dunn. I didn’t start Bush because I wasn’t sure in what capacity he would be used in New Orleans. I have decided to start him along with Larry Johnson. Johnson didn’t get as high of a rating as I thought he would have, but he was just shy of 10 points.
Terrell Owens did a fine job and would have scored better had two plays not been nullified due to offensive penalties, but he still hit 13 points and gave me a good boost. Alge Crumpler had a good night, raking in more than eight points, and Chris Chambers did well considering he didn’t get the ball too much. On one single drive he amassed most of the points he earned, which only equaled a little more than five.
Nate Burleson was a big flop for me, scoring only two points, but it was off of one single reception for 36 yards. I am going to give him another week since Seattle will be playing against Arizona and shouldn’t be in too much trouble.
I had to do a last minute replacement for Mike Vanderjagt after Bill Parcels decided not to take him to Florida. I recruited Nate Kaeding and was very pleased when he took me from sixth place on Sunday to fourth place on Monday after collecting 10 points.
I started out with the New York Giants defense, but after seeing that they were up against Indianapolis I decided to find an alternate. Philadelphia went against Houston and pulled in five more points than I would have received had I used the Giants, but they still only got six-and-a-half points overall. Better than what I would have had, so I can’t complain.
This coming week I have to either dump one of my defenses and find a new one or go with the Giants because Philadelphia and New York are playing each other and I don’t like my choices. If I go for Philadelphia’s defense then I am going against Manning as my quarterback. Tough decisions.
I am hoping to just have another good week and stay in the fray. My goal this year is to not suck, and so far that is working out for me.
Eli Manning had a decent game. Two mistakes in the second half cost me some precious points, but hit double digits and scored more than 12 points.
I got some good points from Warrick Dunn, but I would have been better off starting Reggie Bush, since he scored two more points than Dunn. I didn’t start Bush because I wasn’t sure in what capacity he would be used in New Orleans. I have decided to start him along with Larry Johnson. Johnson didn’t get as high of a rating as I thought he would have, but he was just shy of 10 points.
Terrell Owens did a fine job and would have scored better had two plays not been nullified due to offensive penalties, but he still hit 13 points and gave me a good boost. Alge Crumpler had a good night, raking in more than eight points, and Chris Chambers did well considering he didn’t get the ball too much. On one single drive he amassed most of the points he earned, which only equaled a little more than five.
Nate Burleson was a big flop for me, scoring only two points, but it was off of one single reception for 36 yards. I am going to give him another week since Seattle will be playing against Arizona and shouldn’t be in too much trouble.
I had to do a last minute replacement for Mike Vanderjagt after Bill Parcels decided not to take him to Florida. I recruited Nate Kaeding and was very pleased when he took me from sixth place on Sunday to fourth place on Monday after collecting 10 points.
I started out with the New York Giants defense, but after seeing that they were up against Indianapolis I decided to find an alternate. Philadelphia went against Houston and pulled in five more points than I would have received had I used the Giants, but they still only got six-and-a-half points overall. Better than what I would have had, so I can’t complain.
This coming week I have to either dump one of my defenses and find a new one or go with the Giants because Philadelphia and New York are playing each other and I don’t like my choices. If I go for Philadelphia’s defense then I am going against Manning as my quarterback. Tough decisions.
I am hoping to just have another good week and stay in the fray. My goal this year is to not suck, and so far that is working out for me.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
TOC IV - Game Five
I really felt confident going into tonight's game and I thought there was no way I wouldn't win. Well, I was close. I finished second and came close to winning it had I made a call when I had a better pair against Mike, but I was ashamed of my kicker and didn't feel confident enough to make the call. Here are the standings for tonight and after five games.
Tonight:
1st - Mike II - 0 points
2nd - Matt - 11 points
3rd - Brooke - 21 points
4th - Linda - 30 points
5th - Nick - 38 points
6th - Wayne - 45 points
7th - Hector - 51 points
8th - Danny - 56 points
9th - Mike I - 60 points
10th - Slope - 63 points
11th - Brian - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall:
1st - Slope - 152 points
2nd - Matt - 156 points
3rd - Linda - 159 points
4th - Mike II - 170 points
5th - Brooke - 186 points
6th - Wayne - 215 points
7th - Danny - 223 points
8th - Nick - 223 points
9th - James - 233 points
10th - Brian - 248 points
11th - Hector - 266 points
12th - Mike I - 300 points
Tonight:
1st - Mike II - 0 points
2nd - Matt - 11 points
3rd - Brooke - 21 points
4th - Linda - 30 points
5th - Nick - 38 points
6th - Wayne - 45 points
7th - Hector - 51 points
8th - Danny - 56 points
9th - Mike I - 60 points
10th - Slope - 63 points
11th - Brian - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall:
1st - Slope - 152 points
2nd - Matt - 156 points
3rd - Linda - 159 points
4th - Mike II - 170 points
5th - Brooke - 186 points
6th - Wayne - 215 points
7th - Danny - 223 points
8th - Nick - 223 points
9th - James - 233 points
10th - Brian - 248 points
11th - Hector - 266 points
12th - Mike I - 300 points
Thursday, September 07, 2006
A Big Day For Me
I have a lot going on today. I was woken up early because of an 18-wheeler rear-ending a school bus with 34 kids on it. Everyone was okay. Later that morning I saw my fourth dead body since starting this job. A motorcycle fatality, my second, was a long ordeal with the state troopers. I think they forgot about me.
Tonight I will head to Grapevine, about a 90-minute drive with traffic, to see a press screening of “Gridiron Gang.” Not excited about that simply because I need a nap.
Following that is the kickoff, literally, of my first fantasy football season when Chris Chambers of the Miami Dolphins takes the field at Pittsburgh.
Finally, and the biggest news of the day, Moviefone will be premiering the newest “Casino Royale” preview online. I am extremely excited about this and will have to find a computer that can play it somewhere inside this electronic death zone of a building.
Tonight I will head to Grapevine, about a 90-minute drive with traffic, to see a press screening of “Gridiron Gang.” Not excited about that simply because I need a nap.
Following that is the kickoff, literally, of my first fantasy football season when Chris Chambers of the Miami Dolphins takes the field at Pittsburgh.
Finally, and the biggest news of the day, Moviefone will be premiering the newest “Casino Royale” preview online. I am extremely excited about this and will have to find a computer that can play it somewhere inside this electronic death zone of a building.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
A Season Long Inside Joke
My friends have sucked me into the game of fantasy football... and I have to say that my team looks pretty good for somebody who knows very little about the game of football or its fanciful counterpart. I had a lot of help from James, but I must say my first three picks were pretty superb.
I had to use my final pick for a third quarterback due to my backup quarterback having the same bye week as my starter. I also have made an early trade because of scheduling conficts for my wide receivers. The trade is questionable to some, but it needed to be done.
This is what my roster looks like in order of where they were chosen. I had the second pick overall and we used a snake style draft:
1. Larry Johnson - RB
2. Eli Manning - QB
3. Terrell Owens - WR
4. Chris Chambers - WR
5. Warrick Dunn - RB
6. Alge Crumpler - TE
7. Reggie Bush - RB
8. Mike Vanderjagt - K
9. Terry Glenn - WR (This was my original pick and I was very upset to trade him to James for Nate Burleson - WR. However, it had to be done)
10. Ben Roethlisberger - QB (This was a big mistake simply because of his bye week being the same as Mannings)
11. NY Giants Defense
12. Ben Troupe - TE
13. Jerry Porter - WR
14. Aaron Brooks - QB
I had to use my final pick for a third quarterback due to my backup quarterback having the same bye week as my starter. I also have made an early trade because of scheduling conficts for my wide receivers. The trade is questionable to some, but it needed to be done.
This is what my roster looks like in order of where they were chosen. I had the second pick overall and we used a snake style draft:
1. Larry Johnson - RB
2. Eli Manning - QB
3. Terrell Owens - WR
4. Chris Chambers - WR
5. Warrick Dunn - RB
6. Alge Crumpler - TE
7. Reggie Bush - RB
8. Mike Vanderjagt - K
9. Terry Glenn - WR (This was my original pick and I was very upset to trade him to James for Nate Burleson - WR. However, it had to be done)
10. Ben Roethlisberger - QB (This was a big mistake simply because of his bye week being the same as Mannings)
11. NY Giants Defense
12. Ben Troupe - TE
13. Jerry Porter - WR
14. Aaron Brooks - QB
Saturday, September 02, 2006
TOC IV - Game Four
Like the last three games I played on a short stack most of the night and survived. I got extremely lucky when my snowmen cracked Mike's Kings while I was all in and then I also got lucky in a hand with Hector when my three of a kind boated up to tie with Hector on a runner-runner turn and river. I knew I was beat when I called Hector's all in, but I would have had about $5,000 with blinds at $200-400 and I just didn't want to deal with that anymore. I took a chance and got lucky.
Here are the current standings for both last night and the overall tournament:
Game Four:
1st - Danny - 0 points
2nd - Brooke - 11 points
3rd - Hector - 21 points
4th - Slope - 30 points
5th - Matt - 38 points
6th - Mike II - 45 points
7th - Brian - 51 points
8th - Linda - 56 points
9th - Wayne - 60 points
10th - Mike - 63 points
11th - Nick - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall:
1st - Slope - 89 points
2nd - Linda - 129 points
3rd - Matt - 145 points
4th - Brooke - 165 points
5th - James - 167 points
6th - Danny - 167 points
7th - Wayne - 170 points
8th - Mike II - 170 points
9th - Brian - 183 points
10th - Nick - 185 points
11th - Hector - 215 points
12th - Mike I - 240 points
Here are the current standings for both last night and the overall tournament:
Game Four:
1st - Danny - 0 points
2nd - Brooke - 11 points
3rd - Hector - 21 points
4th - Slope - 30 points
5th - Matt - 38 points
6th - Mike II - 45 points
7th - Brian - 51 points
8th - Linda - 56 points
9th - Wayne - 60 points
10th - Mike - 63 points
11th - Nick - 65 points
12th - James - 66 points
Overall:
1st - Slope - 89 points
2nd - Linda - 129 points
3rd - Matt - 145 points
4th - Brooke - 165 points
5th - James - 167 points
6th - Danny - 167 points
7th - Wayne - 170 points
8th - Mike II - 170 points
9th - Brian - 183 points
10th - Nick - 185 points
11th - Hector - 215 points
12th - Mike I - 240 points
Friday, September 01, 2006
An Upcoming Poker Tournament
My utter disgust with the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour pampering the women of poker has led me to stage a coo in the tournament scene. I will be holding "The First Annual Outie Open" this October 14. I might even change the name to "The First Annual October Outie Open." Yeah, that sounds nice. It rolls off the tongue like "Mayor Goldie Wilson." I like the sound of that.
It will be an open tournament to anyone who wishes to play, except women. I'm not gay, just fed up with equality not being quite equal enough. I don't see any "Men's Only" tournaments at the WSOP or WPT.
Sure, I understand what they are trying to do. The men in poker tournaments vastly outnumber the women, but that doesn't mean a single female player is at a disadvantage due to the uneven numbers. It is not like basketball or wrestling where a guy has a clear advantage over a woman because of his size, strength or masculinity.
If women want to be treated fairly then they need to ditch things like ladies events. Wanting to be treated fairly means not holding events that are only for you, unless men do the same thing, such as fraternities and sororities.
If there is a "Men's Only" event, whether it is in golf, basketball, chess or whatever, then by all means there should be a "Women's Only" event. There isn't such a thing in poker, so I stand by my "Outie Open."
It will be an open tournament to anyone who wishes to play, except women. I'm not gay, just fed up with equality not being quite equal enough. I don't see any "Men's Only" tournaments at the WSOP or WPT.
Sure, I understand what they are trying to do. The men in poker tournaments vastly outnumber the women, but that doesn't mean a single female player is at a disadvantage due to the uneven numbers. It is not like basketball or wrestling where a guy has a clear advantage over a woman because of his size, strength or masculinity.
If women want to be treated fairly then they need to ditch things like ladies events. Wanting to be treated fairly means not holding events that are only for you, unless men do the same thing, such as fraternities and sororities.
If there is a "Men's Only" event, whether it is in golf, basketball, chess or whatever, then by all means there should be a "Women's Only" event. There isn't such a thing in poker, so I stand by my "Outie Open."
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
“Snakes” A Perfect Example Of “So Bad It's Good”
A title like “Snakes on a Plane” harkens back to the black-and-white days of cinema when there were B-titles like “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die,” “Attack of the Giant Leeches” and “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” I’m not making these movies up; they are real.
Why would anyone want to watch snakes attacking people on an airplane for two hours? It is simple: harmless fun.
“Snakes on a Plane” is the most enjoyment you will have in a movie theater this entire year. It is so absurd, so preposterous and so clichéd you can’t help but smile and cringe at every turn of the silly plot. Just sit back, buy the big tub of popcorn and enjoy the two-hours of snakes, Samuel L. Jackson and gratuitous sex, violence and mature content.
Although set up as a genuine story about a villain attempting to murder a witness with hundreds of poisonous snakes on a plane bound from Hawaii to Los Angeles, the movie never really takes itself seriously. Director David R. Ellis plugs in every stereotype he can come up with, including the feminine male flight attendant, the good cop/bad cop tough as nails FBI agents, the plucky female flight attendant on her last flight before a career change, the Paris Hilton-type princess and the smooth-talking rapper who is hated by those who really know him.
Jackson plays Neville Flynn, one of the FBI agents, who is escorting the witness and has to keep the injured alive, the plane in the air and the witness away from the snakes all while trying to figure out what kind of snakes are on the plane and how they got there in the first place. You shouldn’t be trying to figure these things out yourself because it will just take away from the enjoyment that is right in front of you.
Julianna Margulies, of “ER” fame, is the brave flight attendant that helps Jackson calm the passengers and save the day.
With a quick storyline, lots of action and unintentional comedy – the best kind – “Snakes on a Plane” shouldn’t be missed before it falls into the depths of nameless B-movies, which will likely occur a few months after its release to DVD.
“Snakes on a Plane” has been out for several weeks now and although it didn’t have the opening, or staying power, that most anticipated from this sleeper hit, the dramatic anticipation from fans building up to the release was enough entertainment for America without the need of the movie actually being seen.
Reportedly, the only reason this movie was talked about among Hollywood colleagues was because they were trying to one-up each other after work one day during happy hour with the most awful pitch for a movie. The story goes Producer Craig Berenson, who worked for DreamWorks at the time, gave his pitch for this movie based on a script called “Venom.”
Once given the green light and a title change, Jackson instantly pursued a part in the movie after hearing the title, according to interviews. Jackson said the only reason he worked on the movie was because of the title “Snakes on a Plane.”
Once filming began, computerized word-of-mouth began to spread and a cult following formed before anything but a teaser poster was ever seen from the public. As the hype built, New Line Cinema decided to re-shoot scenes for five days in order to push the movie from a PG-13 to an R rating. Among these additions is the highly anticipated line delivered from Jackson about his feelings toward the snakes on the plane, which was added after haring it on an anticipatory Internet parody of the movie.
Then the advertising department came up with a brilliant idea. Jackson was brought in to record several names and occupational fields for a phone recording. Then a website was set up that allowed a person to fill out some general information and plug in a phone number. The number would be called and a voice mail would be recorded with Jackson leaving the listener a message advertising “Snakes on a Plane.”
The publicity and anticipation that built for this movie created a buzz among moviegoers for weeks, but the film’s release failed to generate the money that was expected.
Forget about rationalizing the ludicrous story. Ignore the countless typecasts. Pay no attention to the computerized snakes. Just relax and remember that it could a whole lot worse. You could be watching “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.”
Why would anyone want to watch snakes attacking people on an airplane for two hours? It is simple: harmless fun.
“Snakes on a Plane” is the most enjoyment you will have in a movie theater this entire year. It is so absurd, so preposterous and so clichéd you can’t help but smile and cringe at every turn of the silly plot. Just sit back, buy the big tub of popcorn and enjoy the two-hours of snakes, Samuel L. Jackson and gratuitous sex, violence and mature content.
Although set up as a genuine story about a villain attempting to murder a witness with hundreds of poisonous snakes on a plane bound from Hawaii to Los Angeles, the movie never really takes itself seriously. Director David R. Ellis plugs in every stereotype he can come up with, including the feminine male flight attendant, the good cop/bad cop tough as nails FBI agents, the plucky female flight attendant on her last flight before a career change, the Paris Hilton-type princess and the smooth-talking rapper who is hated by those who really know him.
Jackson plays Neville Flynn, one of the FBI agents, who is escorting the witness and has to keep the injured alive, the plane in the air and the witness away from the snakes all while trying to figure out what kind of snakes are on the plane and how they got there in the first place. You shouldn’t be trying to figure these things out yourself because it will just take away from the enjoyment that is right in front of you.
Julianna Margulies, of “ER” fame, is the brave flight attendant that helps Jackson calm the passengers and save the day.
With a quick storyline, lots of action and unintentional comedy – the best kind – “Snakes on a Plane” shouldn’t be missed before it falls into the depths of nameless B-movies, which will likely occur a few months after its release to DVD.
“Snakes on a Plane” has been out for several weeks now and although it didn’t have the opening, or staying power, that most anticipated from this sleeper hit, the dramatic anticipation from fans building up to the release was enough entertainment for America without the need of the movie actually being seen.
Reportedly, the only reason this movie was talked about among Hollywood colleagues was because they were trying to one-up each other after work one day during happy hour with the most awful pitch for a movie. The story goes Producer Craig Berenson, who worked for DreamWorks at the time, gave his pitch for this movie based on a script called “Venom.”
Once given the green light and a title change, Jackson instantly pursued a part in the movie after hearing the title, according to interviews. Jackson said the only reason he worked on the movie was because of the title “Snakes on a Plane.”
Once filming began, computerized word-of-mouth began to spread and a cult following formed before anything but a teaser poster was ever seen from the public. As the hype built, New Line Cinema decided to re-shoot scenes for five days in order to push the movie from a PG-13 to an R rating. Among these additions is the highly anticipated line delivered from Jackson about his feelings toward the snakes on the plane, which was added after haring it on an anticipatory Internet parody of the movie.
Then the advertising department came up with a brilliant idea. Jackson was brought in to record several names and occupational fields for a phone recording. Then a website was set up that allowed a person to fill out some general information and plug in a phone number. The number would be called and a voice mail would be recorded with Jackson leaving the listener a message advertising “Snakes on a Plane.”
The publicity and anticipation that built for this movie created a buzz among moviegoers for weeks, but the film’s release failed to generate the money that was expected.
Forget about rationalizing the ludicrous story. Ignore the countless typecasts. Pay no attention to the computerized snakes. Just relax and remember that it could a whole lot worse. You could be watching “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.”
Saturday, August 26, 2006
TOC IV - Game Three
Another solid game sent me another place closer to the championship tonight. I received a third place finish, but Linda, the player who was in third place, got second. However, I did gain some ground on Slope and James. I also passed Mike, since he had to drive out of town tonight and was playing to either win it or be out in less than four hours.
I misplayed a big hand against Wayne when I flopped three of a kind. I knew Wayne had a better kicker than me, but I got stubborn and thought I could get him off of it. I should have shut down after I check-raised Nick on the flop and he smooth called after checking it behind me. I know better than that.
Other than that I played pretty solid. I knocked out slope who held 10-10 to my A-7. Tens are not holding up against me in this TOC. I also doubled up through Mike early when I turned a straight with a flush draw. He was trying to win quickly and I used that to get a lot of his chips. However, that backfired a few times when I held some questionable hands that I couldn't play pre-flop because he was acting extremely aggressive and careless.
Here are the current standings for both tonight and the overall tournament:
Tonight:
1st - Wayne - 0 points
2nd - Linda - 11 points
3rd - Matt - 21 points
4th - Nick - 30 points
5th - Slope - 38 points
6th - Brian - 45 points
7th - Mike II - 51 points
8th - Danny - 56 points
9th - Brooke - 60 points
10th - James - 63 points
Mike Sr. and Hector were both no shows. They should be receiving 12th place finishes and 66 points each, but it isn't finalized yet.
Overall:
1st - Slope - 59 points
2nd - Linda - 73 points
3rd - James - 101 points
4th - Matt - 107 points
5th - Wayne - 110 points
6th - Nick - 120 points
7th - Mike II - 125 points
8th - Brian - 132 points
9th - Brooke - 154 points
10th - Danny - 167 points
11th - Mike I - 177 points
12th - Hector - 194 points
I misplayed a big hand against Wayne when I flopped three of a kind. I knew Wayne had a better kicker than me, but I got stubborn and thought I could get him off of it. I should have shut down after I check-raised Nick on the flop and he smooth called after checking it behind me. I know better than that.
Other than that I played pretty solid. I knocked out slope who held 10-10 to my A-7. Tens are not holding up against me in this TOC. I also doubled up through Mike early when I turned a straight with a flush draw. He was trying to win quickly and I used that to get a lot of his chips. However, that backfired a few times when I held some questionable hands that I couldn't play pre-flop because he was acting extremely aggressive and careless.
Here are the current standings for both tonight and the overall tournament:
Tonight:
1st - Wayne - 0 points
2nd - Linda - 11 points
3rd - Matt - 21 points
4th - Nick - 30 points
5th - Slope - 38 points
6th - Brian - 45 points
7th - Mike II - 51 points
8th - Danny - 56 points
9th - Brooke - 60 points
10th - James - 63 points
Mike Sr. and Hector were both no shows. They should be receiving 12th place finishes and 66 points each, but it isn't finalized yet.
Overall:
1st - Slope - 59 points
2nd - Linda - 73 points
3rd - James - 101 points
4th - Matt - 107 points
5th - Wayne - 110 points
6th - Nick - 120 points
7th - Mike II - 125 points
8th - Brian - 132 points
9th - Brooke - 154 points
10th - Danny - 167 points
11th - Mike I - 177 points
12th - Hector - 194 points
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Sin City Is The Place For Me
I had a lot of fun in Las Vegas this past weekend. Had I only played poker I would be up for the trip, however, I am a gambling fiend and can't resist other games when around them for more than a few hours... or minutes. James did very well at poker. Left with about $350 and came back with more than $1,000.
I went three for four on poker wins. The one session I did lose I still played well but I lost it when a guy (who was killing time before he went to bed and had collected about $600-700 off a $200 buy-in) caught a straight on the river after I had bet pretty hard on every street. As I said, still played well during the session until that point, and then I went nuts and lost the rest of my remaining buy-in. I did make a good lay down with bottom two pair before I lost it though. That made me feel good when he flipped over top two pair on the turn to show I made a good lay down, but it still stung.
The last game I played in was at the hotel we were staying at (Monte Carlo) and I tried to push a guy off a hand pre-flop, but who knew 9-2 suited was such a favorite among Las Vegas poker players. He re-raised it to $30 after I made it $10 to go. I moved all in for about $140. That put him all in, but only by about $25, and he called pretty quick. I only had A-10 offsuit, but it was good on a board of Q-5-2-Q-5. I got lucky there when he caught the two on the flop, but in my defense I made the right play. There are few people who would call all of their money on 9-2 suited.
The poker play in Vegas is soooooooooo much better than WinStar or Shreveport. It is older guys and girls who like to play every street without moving everything they have in pre-flop or on the flop. Caeser's Palace has the nicest card room and the best game I have I ever played in. It was small pot poker the entire time. Greatness.
We saw Phil Gordon at the Venetian poker room, along with Jim Anderson, of the Weston group. Overall the trip was great. Had a very good time and only lost about $170 for the trip after gambling, food and other expenses. Had I not played any other game than poker I would have been up for the trip.
One other exciting thing was that I turned $10 in video blackjack into $110, netting myself a $100 profit (which made up for the $98 I lost at craps 10 minutes before that). I did the same thing the next day with $4, turning it into $104, but that was not for $100 in profits. I only got $4 in profits since I bought in with $100. Still, pretty impressive. I am thinking about giving up poker and turning into a professional video blackjack player.
I went three for four on poker wins. The one session I did lose I still played well but I lost it when a guy (who was killing time before he went to bed and had collected about $600-700 off a $200 buy-in) caught a straight on the river after I had bet pretty hard on every street. As I said, still played well during the session until that point, and then I went nuts and lost the rest of my remaining buy-in. I did make a good lay down with bottom two pair before I lost it though. That made me feel good when he flipped over top two pair on the turn to show I made a good lay down, but it still stung.
The last game I played in was at the hotel we were staying at (Monte Carlo) and I tried to push a guy off a hand pre-flop, but who knew 9-2 suited was such a favorite among Las Vegas poker players. He re-raised it to $30 after I made it $10 to go. I moved all in for about $140. That put him all in, but only by about $25, and he called pretty quick. I only had A-10 offsuit, but it was good on a board of Q-5-2-Q-5. I got lucky there when he caught the two on the flop, but in my defense I made the right play. There are few people who would call all of their money on 9-2 suited.
The poker play in Vegas is soooooooooo much better than WinStar or Shreveport. It is older guys and girls who like to play every street without moving everything they have in pre-flop or on the flop. Caeser's Palace has the nicest card room and the best game I have I ever played in. It was small pot poker the entire time. Greatness.
We saw Phil Gordon at the Venetian poker room, along with Jim Anderson, of the Weston group. Overall the trip was great. Had a very good time and only lost about $170 for the trip after gambling, food and other expenses. Had I not played any other game than poker I would have been up for the trip.
One other exciting thing was that I turned $10 in video blackjack into $110, netting myself a $100 profit (which made up for the $98 I lost at craps 10 minutes before that). I did the same thing the next day with $4, turning it into $104, but that was not for $100 in profits. I only got $4 in profits since I bought in with $100. Still, pretty impressive. I am thinking about giving up poker and turning into a professional video blackjack player.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Another Trip To Vegas
I am making my fourth trip since turning 21 to Las Vegas today. Originally it began as a birthday trip with James, Clint and Kristyn, Danny and Brandy, Joanna and my mom going. My brother and Angelina were going to meet us out there. However, some changes were made and now it is just my mom, James and his dad going with me and Bart and Angelina meeting us out there.
We will be returning Monday and I am really glad to be getting this vacation. A day off from work and time in the city I love. What could be better?
I hope to play in at least one tournament while I am out there, even if it is a rinky-dink one like Sam's Town. I will have updates when I get back.
We will be returning Monday and I am really glad to be getting this vacation. A day off from work and time in the city I love. What could be better?
I hope to play in at least one tournament while I am out there, even if it is a rinky-dink one like Sam's Town. I will have updates when I get back.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Advertising And Poker
My frustration today is in the commercialization of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). The WSOP has been going on for decades – three to be more precise – without any recognition or public annoyance. It was gradually growing in popularity with appearances by Amarillo Slim on the Tonight Show and the $10,000 buy-in becoming easier to come by as the years progressed, but it was still a poker tournament controlled by the pros and it meant something to win the Main Event.
Yet, in the new millennium and the emergence of the ideal that “Anyone can win” following Chris Moneymaker’s triumph, amateurs and Internet qualifiers have swarmed the playing field creating a minefield of bad players that is almost impossible to get through unscathed.
The event is becoming comical in its size, which leads to advertisers wanting in on the popularity. It is impossible to avoid new wave ideas such as the “All-in moment brought to you by Degree.” That is just something we will have to get used to. Someday everything will be sponsored. In football, the replay will be sponsored by Budweiser, the play clock will be sponsored by ESPN and even the tackle will be sponsored by something like Timex, takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
Back to poker. This kind of advertising is already there and we can’t avoid it, however, I have noticed a new physical feature making its identity known on the felt. Besides having the casino’s logo plastered on the green fabric for constant exposure during a tournament, other sponsors are getting in on the action.
Certain advertisers are having their logo painted on the felt during tournaments so that every community card will be purposefully placed right below, giving the company endless publicity without ever needing a creative commercial or page design for a magazine.
I don’t remember exactly which tournament I saw this at, but it is a beating. I will equate this to having the outfield wall in a baseball stadium covered in advertising billboards. I know some of you agree that this lowers the park's respectability to a minor league level.
I am a purist when it comes to the game and I always want to see a professional poker player win the Main Event. With that said I also don’t want to see advertising on the table, people jump around like idiots after winning a pot or sunglasses worn inside. These are just opinions but they are my opinions, which makes them more notable.
Yet, in the new millennium and the emergence of the ideal that “Anyone can win” following Chris Moneymaker’s triumph, amateurs and Internet qualifiers have swarmed the playing field creating a minefield of bad players that is almost impossible to get through unscathed.
The event is becoming comical in its size, which leads to advertisers wanting in on the popularity. It is impossible to avoid new wave ideas such as the “All-in moment brought to you by Degree.” That is just something we will have to get used to. Someday everything will be sponsored. In football, the replay will be sponsored by Budweiser, the play clock will be sponsored by ESPN and even the tackle will be sponsored by something like Timex, takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
Back to poker. This kind of advertising is already there and we can’t avoid it, however, I have noticed a new physical feature making its identity known on the felt. Besides having the casino’s logo plastered on the green fabric for constant exposure during a tournament, other sponsors are getting in on the action.
Certain advertisers are having their logo painted on the felt during tournaments so that every community card will be purposefully placed right below, giving the company endless publicity without ever needing a creative commercial or page design for a magazine.
I don’t remember exactly which tournament I saw this at, but it is a beating. I will equate this to having the outfield wall in a baseball stadium covered in advertising billboards. I know some of you agree that this lowers the park's respectability to a minor league level.
I am a purist when it comes to the game and I always want to see a professional poker player win the Main Event. With that said I also don’t want to see advertising on the table, people jump around like idiots after winning a pot or sunglasses worn inside. These are just opinions but they are my opinions, which makes them more notable.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
TOC IV - Game Two
I played much better this week. I took my time with each hand and thought out what the best option was before ever acting. Before betting or calling a bet I would calculate what was in the pot to know how much I should bet.
My biggest three mistakes were as follows:
#1: It was five-handed early in the tournament and I had K-9 offsuit one from the button. I raised it up and it folded around to Brooke who was the big blind. She called the raise. The flop came out King high and two spades. She bet $300 when there was about $750 in the pot. I raised it to $1,200. She called. The turn was another spade. She checked and I thought briefly and bet another $1,200. I should have checked here because I felt the spade helped her and slowing down would have been the smart play. The river came with another King and Brooke bet out $2,500. This put $6,000 in the pot. My hand had just increased to three of a kind. I am only beat by a higher kicker, a full house or the flush. Out of frustration, knowing I was beat, I made the call. She had A-3 of spades. Had I checked the turn she would not have bet so much on the river and I could have lost less when I called it down.
#2: I raised with A-10 offsuit and Nick re-raised right behind me. It folded around to me and I went all in. He called with 10-10 and I got lucky with a runner-runner flush that also paired my Ace on the river. It was stupid to move all in pre-flop. Nick had not been playing goofy like he does and I should have known he had a big hand.
#3: The final mistake knocked me out of the tournament in fourth place. I raised with A-2 and Slope called behind me. The flop came Q-J-2. I bet out and he moved all in. Without a moment's hesitation I called. He had a Jack and I didn't improve. I had been patient all night and thought out my plays. This hand I didn't do that and I deserved what I got.
Here are the standings from last night and the overall leader board:
Game Two:
1st - Slope - 0 points
2nd - Linda - 11 points
3rd - Brian - 21 points
4th - Matt - 30 points
5th - James - 38 points
6th - Wayne - 45 points
7th - Danny - 51 points
8th - Brooke - 56 points
9th - Nick - 60 points
10th - Mike II - 63 points
11th - Hector - 65 points
12th - Mike I - 66 points
Overall Standings:
1st - Slope - 21 points
2nd - James - 38 points
3rd - Linda - 62 points
4th - Mike II - 74 points
5th - Matt - 86 points
6th - Brian - 87 points
7th - Nick - 90 points
8th - Brooke - 94 points
9th - Wayne - 110 points
10th - Mike I - 111 points
11th - Danny - 111 points
12th - Hector - 128 points
My biggest three mistakes were as follows:
#1: It was five-handed early in the tournament and I had K-9 offsuit one from the button. I raised it up and it folded around to Brooke who was the big blind. She called the raise. The flop came out King high and two spades. She bet $300 when there was about $750 in the pot. I raised it to $1,200. She called. The turn was another spade. She checked and I thought briefly and bet another $1,200. I should have checked here because I felt the spade helped her and slowing down would have been the smart play. The river came with another King and Brooke bet out $2,500. This put $6,000 in the pot. My hand had just increased to three of a kind. I am only beat by a higher kicker, a full house or the flush. Out of frustration, knowing I was beat, I made the call. She had A-3 of spades. Had I checked the turn she would not have bet so much on the river and I could have lost less when I called it down.
#2: I raised with A-10 offsuit and Nick re-raised right behind me. It folded around to me and I went all in. He called with 10-10 and I got lucky with a runner-runner flush that also paired my Ace on the river. It was stupid to move all in pre-flop. Nick had not been playing goofy like he does and I should have known he had a big hand.
#3: The final mistake knocked me out of the tournament in fourth place. I raised with A-2 and Slope called behind me. The flop came Q-J-2. I bet out and he moved all in. Without a moment's hesitation I called. He had a Jack and I didn't improve. I had been patient all night and thought out my plays. This hand I didn't do that and I deserved what I got.
Here are the standings from last night and the overall leader board:
Game Two:
1st - Slope - 0 points
2nd - Linda - 11 points
3rd - Brian - 21 points
4th - Matt - 30 points
5th - James - 38 points
6th - Wayne - 45 points
7th - Danny - 51 points
8th - Brooke - 56 points
9th - Nick - 60 points
10th - Mike II - 63 points
11th - Hector - 65 points
12th - Mike I - 66 points
Overall Standings:
1st - Slope - 21 points
2nd - James - 38 points
3rd - Linda - 62 points
4th - Mike II - 74 points
5th - Matt - 86 points
6th - Brian - 87 points
7th - Nick - 90 points
8th - Brooke - 94 points
9th - Wayne - 110 points
10th - Mike I - 111 points
11th - Danny - 111 points
12th - Hector - 128 points
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